to take to the turf

[S u N f r O s T ~]

TRINITY AND CHRISTOPHER BLACK
IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND VALENCIA ANDREWS
DEMONIC DESIRES AND AMBER BLACK

TRIN'S WORKOUT FOR JAZZMAN MILER CHALLENGE
INNIE'S WORKOUT FOR FIRST LADY STAKES
DEMON'S WORKOUT FOR ONTARIO JOCKEY CLUB STAKES

Valencia felt like a schemer the moment she hopped aboard In The Spotlight. The chestnut filly was vibrating with energy and focus and looked beautiful in the morning sunlight. But beautiful things could be deadly, as any SOPS horse stabled in the same barn as this girl knew. Innie was one of the top turf fillies of her generation, and one of the most surprisingly good. Originally termed as a distance filly, she had defeated the odds in winning the Frankel Green Mile in late August. That had been over a month ago, and since then she had added two seconds to her record from the Wildly Natural Memorial Stakes and the Universal Cup. The Universal in particular had been a tough race, but Innie was not one to fizzle out. She was the type to keep right on working even as the times got tougher and more was asked of her. The classy filly just loved to have all eyes on her, so loved the winners' circle, and they were hoping to visit it again next time out. Innie was two wins off grade one and a win in the First Lady Stakes would only bring her closer to this goal. The field for this race was definitely intense though. It was at a mile, a distance Innie was now proven at, but she was facing a tough field. Cross My Heart headed it, followed by Daddy's Overdraft, Fly By Darkness and Lost In Memories. Innie would find her place at the lead challenged by Cross My Heart right from the start. It would take guts and stamina to stick it out...but Innie was loaded with stamina that many in the field may not have. She could run twelve furlongs entirely on the lead. Thus, it would not be easy to take her down.

The minute the two arrived on the turf track, Innie stretched out. Her pace increased as her stride length did, and Valencia settled more deeply in the irons. This was a thoroughbred racehorse intent on her work. Innie bugled loudly, calling all attention possible to her as she did so, and then began to jog lightly, expectantly over the track. It was clear that she expected competition today. Innie was indeed rarely galloped alone, instead working out better when she had companions. And today would be a special treat, because she was being joined by two others who would be sure to give her a challenge and a great tune-up for the First Lady Stakes. Valencia could hardly wait to see if they could out-run Demonic Desires and then stay alive long enough to fend off the surprise challenge from Trinity. She knew how both of those horses worked, mainly because Valencia was not the type to forget her competition, even if they never faced off with said competition on the track. To ignore any enemy was to open yourself up even more to defeat...and as any person with a brain knew, both Valencia and Innie did not take kindly to defeat.

Young Christopher Black stepped back to admire his handiwork, a little smile flitting onto his face. Trinity looked like a horse goddess. There was not a speck of dirt on her, and her black mane and tail were tangle free and flowing. She looked more beautiful than he would have thought possible. Chris knew that few people could groom a horse as well as he could. He supposed horsemanship ran in the family in that respect. His cousin Amber had been nice enough to not only let him groom for her, but promote him to exercise rider within the year, provided he kept up all of his other duties. To Chris, becoming a jockey was a dream...and now he was one step closer to actually making it happen. And Chris couldn't help feeling pleased at how relaxed the typically shy Trin was with him now. When he had first shown up, Trinity had been quiet and had withdrawn from his touch; now, ever since the grooming he had given her, Trin had warmed up to him and would probably welcome him aboard for this workout. Which was good, because the odds were absolutely stacked against them. Demonic Desires and In The Spotlight were not easy competitors. Chris sighed and put that thought behind him. He would just ride Trin to the best of his ability today.

In another part of the barn, Amber Black admired the sleek black form of her own horse. Demonic Desires was one hundred percent blue blooded perfection to her. The son of Speed Demon and Deadly Desires had lived up to his parents in the success he reaped on the track. He was undoubtedly one of the top turf sprinters out there, and now it was time to once again face their elders and see if hey were able to match up. The Ontario Jockey Club Stakes had drawn a stiff field - Arlequinn, Tears No More, Manhattan Royalty and Sugar Rush. Amber felt like there was a strong possibility of walking away with this victory, but she wasn't about to count the chickens before they hatched. She vaulted into the saddle and Demon immediately threw his head up, an arrogant and willful gleam shining from his eyes. Amber settled him, smirking. Muscles rippling, Demon took himself to the turf track and gave every horse he passed by a death glare. Victory was being sought in this next race. They had won two out of three legs of the Turf Triple Sprinter Crown together and Demon was ready to go out and prove himself even more.

Christopher laughed as Trinity shyly stepped onto the turf surface. She had never before raced on it, but she had been worked out on it a couple of times. Plans were in the works to switch the filly to turf racing for next season instead of keeping her on the dirt. Time would tell if that would actually happen. As for now, Trin was initially hesitant but then barely flicked an ear as she adjusted to the grass. Snorting, the bay filly accelerated to a trot and Christopher felt her happiness soar through him. This was a horse that liked to run, he could tell. He let her go faster and was pleased when she did so. She really had a smooth stride, he noted. No wonder his cousin wanted to be this filly's jockey. True, she was inconsistent right now, but weren't all juveniles? He looked up to lock gazes with Valencia was she came trotting towards him aboard Innie. Trin immediately ducked her head at the sight of the other horse. Innie bugled loudly and lifted her head, demanding attention, eyes intent on her competition. Valencia looked intent as well. She eyed Christopher, the youngest person allowed on a horse in the barn, and in that gaze was a look of challenge. But before things could really get heated up, Demonic Desires himself swung onto the scene. The black colt had an aura of dominance blazing around him. Already the winner of sixteen races, Demon was not to be messed with, and Valencia switched her gaze to assess the new threat. Demon barely acknowledged any of the horses in front of him.

Amber nodded a brief greeting to each rider. The smirk on her face never disappeared and that was all the warning Valencia and Chris had before the workout began. Demon swung into action and Innie flanked him, moving up to take the lead from the black colt as they raced around the first turn. Trin settled two lengths off, adjusting to the pace and with Chris not moving a muscle on her back. There was no need to tell this filly to go. When the time was right, she would be there, on the lead. Valencia was smirking as Innie carved through the first quarter in twenty three flat. It was a quick pace, but fortunately one that Innie was more than capable of keeping. Demon would not tire her out. The black Demon himself was settled comfortably at her shoulder, just waiting to pounce. It seemed for now like they would forget the presence of the juvenile behind them. That, Chris thought, would be fatal. He relished the contained power of this bay filly and planned her next move. They were really moving well in themselves and no challenge was being provided just yet. Trin was keen on her competition, focused and sharp as she hugged the inside railing and just waited. Innie accelerated sharply near the end of the backstretch, cutting Demon off by swinging to the inside in a sudden move as they hit the final turn. Demon was not perturbed. The black horse simply let the chestnut filly go on by. His reaction would come the minute they hit the stretch.

Indeed, as they swung off the final turn Demonic Desires exploded into action. The black horse practically lifted off like a jet plane. One second he was behind Innie, the next he was right alongside her and wheeling on by. Innie snorted her displeasure and accelerated, Valencia egging the chestnut on and hoping they were quick enough to stay with the colt. And from the back, Trinity finally began her move. The bay filly just moved, slinking up unseen to challenge from the outside. It took Demon and Innie a second to realize she was there, and then Trinity was swinging on by in a fashion that should have been impossible for a two year old. But her move was enough to get the other two moving again. Demon accelerated again, Innie following as they chased after Trin and beat her to the wire in a sudden rush of speed. Valencia whooped excitedly, slapping Innie's neck as they slowed down. Trin shied sideways at the sound and Demon simply maintained his cool professionalism, though the desire to win by a large margin burned quietly in his eyes. Amber eyed her horses and grinned. They were really going to pack a potent punch in their next starts.